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Glasgow Rangers head coach Philippe Clement made a raft of changes to his playing squad at Ibrox during the recent summer transfer window.

The Light Blues boss allowed the likes of Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, John Lundstram, Todd Cantwell, and Connor Goldson, among others, to move on from the club.

This opened the door for the likes of Nedim Bajrami, Robin Propper, Connor Barron, Jefte, Hamza Igamane, and Vaclav Cerny, among others, to arrive at Ibrox.

There are players who were already part of the squad that Clement has been eager to keep hold of though, including Dujon Sterling – who recently signed a new contract through to the summer of 2028.

Dujon Sterling's time with Rangers

The versatile defender joined the Gers on a free transfer from Premier League side Chelsea in the summer of 2023, under Michael Beale, and has proven himself to be a valuable option for the manager.

Since the start of last season, Sterling has played 48 matches for Rangers in all competitions and racked up over 2,000 minutes of action for the club.

The most impressive part of that is that he has been deployed at left-back, right-back, defensive midfield, central midfield, right midfield, left midfield, and right wing in that time, with no more than nine appearances in any one role.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Rangers currently have a few players who are out of contract at the end of the season and, following Sterling’s new deal earlier this month, Tom Lawrence should be the next player to land a big pay rise and an extension at Ibrox.

Why Tom Lawrence has earned a new deal

The Wales international is currently set to become a free agent next summer and the Gers must now move to pin him down to an extension, as they did with Sterling, due to his fantastic start to the season.

In the 2023/24 campaign, Lawrence managed three goals and three assists in 32 appearances in all competitions, as he struggled to find his best form at the top end of the pitch.

This term, however, the 30-year-old star has upped his game and is starting to show that Clement can rely upon him moving forward, which is why he should be pinned down to a new contract.

Appearances

6

Sofascore rating

7.35

Goals

3

Assists

1

Big chances created

3

As you can see in the table above, Lawrence has produced six goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in six appearances in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Pundit James McFadden recently claimed that the attacking midfielder, who scored in the 4-1 defeat to Lyon in the Europa League last week, is one of the players who is “stepping up” for Rangers at the moment.

Lawrence, who is reportedly on £22k-per-week – less than the likes of Rabbi Matondo and Danilo, should now be the next player to earn fresh terms and a pay rise to ensure that they do not lose the impressive dynamo for nothing when his contract is due to expire next year.

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That would prevent him from being able to sign a pre-contract with another club from January onwards and make sure that Clement can still rely upon the experienced star’s talents in the years to come.

Monaco are the latest club to show an interest in wantaway Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, with a January move possible.

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• Monaco are keen on Marcus Rashford
• Forward wants a 'new challenge'
• January move is possible

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• AFP
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rashford claimed in an interview last month that it was time for a "new challenge" after he followed a disappointing 2023/24 campaign with another slow start in 2024/25. The forward has also been dropped by manager Ruben Amorim and has been heavily linked with a January exit. That fresh start could come in the form of a move to Adi Hutter's side, according to The Telegraph.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  A January move could suit all parties, with Rashford not featuring in any of United's last six matches. The England international has scored just seven goals in 24 appearances this term prior to his absence but could still appeal to some of Europe's big-hitters. Two years ago, he was in the middle of a run of 16 goals in 17 games after the 2022 World Cup.

• AFP
  

  WHAT RASHFORD SAID

  Last month, Rashford told Henry Winter: "Personally, I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps. When I leave, it's going to be, 'No hard feelings'. You're not going to hear any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That's not me as a person."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR RASHFORD?

  Rashford's wages are said to have prohibited some teams from making a move this month but the report states Monaco are confident of putting together a 'realistic package' to sign him in January. Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Barcelona are also interested in a player who faces a battle to restore his career to previous heights. A run of form could also see him force his way back into international reckoning, with new England head coach Thomas Tuchel due to select his first squad in March.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has dropped a key update regarding Leeds United’s pursuit of a new striker, as they look to get an important piece of business over the line.

Leeds Championship form & transfer news

The Whites suffered a hugely disappointing day at the office on Saturday lunchtime, as their first game back after the international break ended in defeat. Daniel Farke’s side were beaten 1-0 at home to Burnley, in a match that pitted two of the Championship’s most highly-rated teams, acting as an early blow to their promotion hopes.

It means Leeds are outside the playoffs after five matches, only winning twice to date this season, so there is an element of pressure on Farke, even though results have been more positive than negative.

In terms of the futures of current players, it has been rumoured that left-back Junior Firpo is now open to signing a new deal at Elland Road, joining Wilfried Gnonto after he did the same recently, acting as a huge boost for the club.

While seven goals in five games is far from a bad return for Leeds, it looks as though a new striker is being looked at in the coming months, especially after Georginio Rutter completed a move to Brighton during the summer transfer window.

Journalist gives update on Leeds striker search

According to an exciting new update from Football Insider‘s O’Rourke, Leeds will look to sign a striker in January, with owners 49ers Enterprises set to make the money available to bring in a new marksman.

Sunderland attacker Eliezer Mayenda has been touted as a possible option for the Whites, having already scored and assisted twice apiece in five appearances for the Black Cats this season, but others are also likely to be looked at.

While O’Rourke has stated that it is “unlikely” that Mayenda will complete a move to Elland Road, he is someone who Leeds should continue to track, possibly looking to entice him to the club eventually.

At just 19 years of age, the Sunderland starlet is also impressing in the Championship, as highlighted by his aforementioned goals and assists this season, so he could be both a long-term acquisition and a squad player from the off. His current manager, Regis Le Bris, is believed to admire “his willingness to learn and how quickly he was able to understand the demands being placed on him in terms of his out-of-possession work”.

Admittedly, Mayenda’s age does mean that he is still a raw footballer, however, and not necessarily someone who could come in and lead the line consistently from the off, which Farke could arguably do with in the promotion battle.

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For that reason, looking elsewhere for an older option who is in and around his prime arguably makes more sense, giving Leeds a proven option midway through the season, injecting additional firepower in the final third alongside Mateo Joseph, Joe Piroe and Patrick Bamford.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo acertou a renovação de mais uma joia da base. Dessa vez, trata-se de Matheus Gonçalves, que assinou o contrato nesta quinta-feira. O clube, contudo, não divulgou a duração do novo vínculo nem o valor da multa rescisória.

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>Garantia do segundo lugar no Brasileirão pode abrir chance de título ao Fla

A extensão do vínculo das joias é uma continuidade nas renovações que já começaram a ser efetuadas meses atrás pelo Flamengo. Vale lembrar que nomes importantes comoMatheus França, Dyogo, Victor Hugo e Petterson já ampliaram os respectivos contratos. Ao site oficial do clube,Vitor Zanelli, Vice-presidente de Futebol de Base, comemorou o acerto com Matheus Gonçalves.

-Acreditamos muito no Matheus Gonçalves. A renovação é prova disso. Vamos continuar trabalhando com o atleta, para ele dar muitas alegrias à Nação – disse o VP.

Ainda é válido lembrar que Matheus Gonçalves foi um dos principais jogadores do time sub-17 neste ano. Nesse sentido, o meio-campistaajudou o Rubro-Negro a conquistar o Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-17, a Copa do Brasil Sub-17 e a Supercopa do Brasil Sub-17.

A free agent’s representatives have contacted Aston Villa over a possible transfer, according to a recent report. The Midlands side endured a very busy summer transfer window, as manager Unai Emery was keen to ensure his squad was good enough to compete in the Premier League and the Champions League, but have now been gifted the chance to add one more player to their ranks.

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1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 4, 2024 Aston Villa miss out on deadline day signing

As the transfer window came to a close, Villa finished it having brought in eight new players, with their biggest arrival being midfielder Amadou Onana from fellow Premier League side Everton.

Amadou Onana

Everton

Ian Maatsen

Chelsea

Cameron Archer (now sold)

Sheffield United

Jaden Philogene

Hull City

Samuel Iling-Junior (now loaned)

Juventus

Lewis Dobbin (now loaned)

Everton

Enzo Barrenechea

Juventus

Ross Barkley

Luton Town

But if Emery and Villa had their way, there could have been nine additions over the summer, as they had their eye on another player. They decided to let midfielder Leander Dendoncker leave the club on loan and join Anderlecht, but they were hoping to get a replacement through the door.

It was reported that Villa made a late move to sign midfielder Giovani Lo Celso from Tottenham Hotspur. However, the attempt was a failure, as he rejected the chance to remain in England because he was keen on a move back to Spain.

Lo Celso joined La Liga side Real Betis in a deal that also allows Spurs to have first refusal on Johnny Cardoso. Villa were unable to find a replacement for Dendoncker in what remained of the transfer window at the time, so it possibly means they are short in midfield, and they could turn to the free agent market, where a more attack-minded player than the Belgian is said to have already offered his services.

Free agent’s representatives make contact with Aston Villa

According to HITC, Yusuf Yazici has made contact with Aston Villa via his representatives over a possible transfer. The Turkish international has been without a club since leaving Ligue 1 side Lille at the start of the summer following the end of his contract.

The report states that Galatasaray are leading the race to sign the midfielder, who scored 12 goals last season in all competitions. But there are also a host of Premier League teams interested in the player, such as Manchester United, Newcastle United, Wolves, Southampton, Tottenham, Fulham, and West Ham United.

As mentioned, Yazici scored 12 goals last season, which was his best return in a Lille shirt. In fact, it was his best goal return in his career, as he was among the goals in the league, Conference League, and Coupe de France.

The 45-cap Turkey playmaker leaves Lille having scored 29 goals and chipping in with 15 assists in 135 games in all competitions. This is the player’s best return for games played and goals scored in his career, with him playing 120 times for Trabzonspor and scoring 27 goals in the process.

Yazici has also established himself on the international stage, scoring three goals for his country and featuring at this summer's EURO 2024 tournament, as his versatility allows him to get up and down the pitch from various positions in midfield.

As the transfer window comes to a close, Celtic are reportedly in extensive talks to sign a young midfield addition who Brendan Rodgers sees as his own Cole Palmer.

Celtic transfer news

The Bhoys left it late to get their summer transfer business going, but got going it did, with Adam Idah recently arriving on a permanent basis after much deliberation with Norwich City. The forward joins back up with a side who have made the perfect start to the Scottish Premiership season, winning two from two and looking more than convincing whilst doing so.

There's still time for the Scottish champions to steal the headlines on the transfer front once more too, particularly if Matt O'Riley departs. The Dane has been the subject of interest from several sides, with Atalanta the most prominent along with Brighton. Yet, as things stand, the Italians and for that matter, any other club, are yet to reach Celtic's reported £25m valuation.

If he does leave, however, those in Scotland could have an ideal replacement lined up. According to Charlie Gordon of The Express, Celtic are in extensive talks to sign Alvyn Sanches from Laussane-Sport, with Rodgers identifying the Switzerland left-footed midfielder as someone who can be his very own Cole Palmer.

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Palmer, of course, has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the last 12 months, becoming Chelsea's main man and earning the PFA Young Player of the Year award. Rodgers reportedly believes that Sanches has the ability to play in a similarly advanced role to the England international.

Why Sanches can play Palmer role

If Celtic need to replace O'Riley this summer, then finding a player who can become Rodgers' own Palmer would certainly be a smart way to go about it, especially since Laussane have reportedly dropped their price tag to £3m this month. Still just 21 years old, the Swiss midfielder has plenty of time to learn under a manager of Rodgers' expertise and become the player that he needs in his current Celtic side.

What's more, Sanches showed plenty of potential last season when it comes to output levels, with six goals in all competitions. He's since picked up where he left off in the current campaign too, scoring two goals in five games. If Celtic can sign the 21-year-old for £3m whilst selling O'Riley for £25m and adequately replace the Dane in the process, then it could be excellent business.

Given his output potential, handing him a similar role to the one that Palmer plays at Chelsea would, on paper, only accelerate Sanches' path towards his potential. But as the summer transfer window draws to a close, Celtic will have to act quickly if they want to secure his signature before deadline day. The midfielder is certainly an option worth pursuing.

Kent 564 (Cox 158, Leaning 128, Bell-Drummond 89, Compton 80, T. Price 5-58) and 91 for 2 (Compton 30, Robinson 22) beat Gloucestershire 438 (Phillips 125, Hammond 66, O Price 51) and 213 (Phillips 59, Duffy 5-66) by eight wicketsKent have recorded their first win of the LV= Insurance County Championship season, beating Gloucestershire by eight wickets at Canterbury.Jacob Duffy took 5 for 65 on his Kent debut, while Matt Quinn claimed 2 for 37 and George Linde 2 for 52, as the hosts lifted themselves out of the Division One relegation zone.Glenn Phillips led Gloucestershire’s resistance, batting for over three hours to make 59, but the visitors were all out for 213, setting Kent a target of just 88.The hosts eased to 91 for 2 in 22.4 overs, with Ben Compton making 30 to leave him on 988 runs for the season. Kent take 22 points and basement side Gloucestershire six.Gloucestershire started day four on 37 for 5, still 89 behind the hosts’ first-innings total of 564 but facing a Kent attack minus Matt Milnes, who was being rested as a precaution.Miles Hammond was on nought when he clipped Duffy to Linde in the first over of the day, but the chance went down and for the next 40 minutes Gloucestershire chipped away at Kent’s lead, until Chris Dent tried to drive Duffy and edged the ball to Jordan Cox at second slip. Cox could only parry the chance, but a diving Sam Billings took the rebound, removing Dent for 32.Linde then produced a violently spinning delivery to bowl Hammond for 41, the ball pitching almost a foot outside off before crashing into the stumps.Ryan Higgins took two from Jack Leaning to nudge the visitors into the lead and Linde couldn’t hold a difficult caught and bowled chance from Higgins in the final over before lunch, at which point Gloucestershire were 16 ahead.Higgins had survived half an hour of the afternoon session when he played on to Quinn and was bowled for 30 and Daniel Bell-Drummond then had Ollie Price caught by the sub fielder Will Harby for three at square leg, from just his third delivery.An elegant cover drive saw Phillips past 50, but he eventually fell to a juggling slip catch by Cox off Linde, leaving Zafar Gohar unbeaten on seven and the visitors rueing their decision to send in three nightwatchers at the end of day three, when they lost five wickets in the final session.Ollie Robinson began the run chase as if in Blast mode, cracking 20 from the first three overs, before he fell to a brilliant one-handed catch by Hammond, while attempting to drive Gohar.Compton, who needed 42 to become the first County Championship player to make 1000 runs this season, was initially more measured, taking Kent to within five runs of victory before he was lbw to Phillips.Jack Leaning finished on eight not out after driving Phillips for four to level the scores and then hitting the same bowler to the cover boundary to clinch the win, while Bell-Drummond was unbeaten on 20.

Leeds United fans will be pleased with how their side are doing out in Germany this pre-season watching from afar, having beaten a tricky test in the form of Schalke 2-0 last time out.

Joe Rothwell starred from the centre of the park in that friendly victory, playing Jayden Bogle into space to assist Mateo Joseph's opener in the behind closed doors clash, but it looks unlikely that the Whites will make do with their numbers centrally away from the addition of the AFC Bournemouth loanee.

Linked recently with a swoop for FC Koln man Dejan Ljubičić to bolster in these spots, the Championship promotion hopefuls are also keeping an eye on a player a lot closer to home, who starred in the EFL last campaign.

Leeds looking to sign Norwich City magician

According to a report by Italian outlet Correiro De Sport, as has been relayed by MOT Leeds News, Leeds are in the hunt for Norwich City ace Gabriel Sara this summer, as Serie A outfit Atalanta also remain keen on the Canaries star.

Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Galatasaray are further named as interested suitors, with an update from TeamTALK revealing that the Italian party could be out in front for the South American, seeing him as the best possible alternative to in-demand Celtic gem Matt O'Riley, if he doesn't move to Bergamo imminently.

Farke and Co will hope they can still come out on top, despite notable interest from a club that will be competing in the Champions League this forthcoming season, and find their next Raphinha in Sara, with the current Barcelona man a dazzling ace to watch from Brazil in his own right when at Elland Road.

Capable of also playing down the right flank, like Raphinha managed week in and week out in West Yorkshire, the 25-year-old could really strengthen Leeds' options in midfield, ahead of a potential promotion-winning term to follow.

How Sara can be Leeds' next Raphinha

Sara ended up having his own personal goal of the season competition in Norfolk last season, regularly smashing in audacious strikes like this one against Swansea City across the full dramatic campaign, with a ridiculous 27 goal contributions tallied up across all competitions by the end of the bumper schedule.

That is why so many suitors have put the £19k-per-week midfielder – as per Capology – top of their respective summer shopping lists, with Leeds wanting even more flair and creativity from midfield courtesy of the South American, knowing that Sara can play in the right midfield spot too if needed to give the Whites more options if Wilfried Gnonto was to up and leave.

Position played

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

CM

43

7

8

DM

18

4

5

RM

13

5

1

AM

12

4

2

LM

1

1

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

From that right midfield spot for Norwich, Sara has shone – as can be seen looking at the table above – with his versatility also coming in handy if Leeds needed an extra body in defensive midfield or even down the left flank if times were desperate.

He will want to operate in an attacking role, however, with his 13 goals last season for the Canaries actually eclipsing Raphinha's best campaign haul of 11 when he was still on the books at Elland Road.

Like Sara – who has been described as "magical" by football analyst Ben Mattinson – however, the ex-Leeds maverick loved cannoning in a sublime strike from nowhere, as can be seen with this sumputous montage above.

Therefore, the current Norwich man might be expected to play in a similar role to that of an entertaining magician for the Whites if a move accelerates into motion.

It will be tough for Leeds to attract Sara to stay put in the Championship, especially with the allure of Serie A calling his name, but landing the slick midfield talent would be a huge statement about Leeds' intentions this season, with a desire to take the league by storm and not settle for another near miss.

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South Africa batsman on the difficulties of batting in spin-friendly conditions

Firdose Moonda30-Jan-2021Aiden Markram has scored his first half-century in the subcontinent but is careful not to consider his corner turned just yet. After 84 runs from eight innings on previous tours to Sri Lanka and India, Markram knows that one 74 does not necessarily make a summer, but his second-innings half-century in Karachi is significant because it gave him confidence.”By no means am I all of a sudden a finished product. It’s a small step in the right direction. Thats how I am trying to see it,” he said. “There’s a still a lot of learning and growing in conditions like these. From a satisfaction thing, there is a bit I can take form this knock, a little bit of confidence. I would have loved to kick on.”Not only was Markram dismissed on the way to what could have been his first hundred since March 2018, but he was sent on his way 15 balls before the close of play on day three, after battling for more than five hours, and laying the foundation for a longer vigil. He found that patience was the one trait he had to lean on more than any other and was disappointed it ran out. “The longer you batted, the lower it got which posed its own challenge, putting spin aside. It was a slightly different innings for me. It was quite a challenge to accept spending time and not worrying about scoring,” Markram said.His fifty, off 158 balls, was the slowest of his career but that was less important than that it came as part of a 127-run stand with Rassie van der Dussen. That partnership was the highest of the match and it took South Africa into the lead.From a position where they were bowled out for 220 in the first innings, then conceded 70 runs in 12.2 overs to allow Pakistan to build a first innings lead over 150, for South Africa to have threatened to post decent target was a massive stride forward. “And then we took a few steps back, if that makes sense,” Markram said, in reference to the three wickets that fell for 10 runs at the end of day three.Still, South Africa had recognised batsmen in the middle on day four and may have fancied their chances of scoring over 300 but ended up losing 9 for 70 in the second innings, to set Pakistan a target of just 88.While Quinton de Kock could not put his finger on why South Africa lost wickets in clusters, Markram felt that conditions had something to do with it, because the in-coming batsmen often faced spin first up. “It’s generally very difficult for a new batter to get in. It’s something we’ve highlighted on previous tours to the subcontinent and on this tour. So (as a batsman) your first 20-30 balls are vital. It’s generally tough to get in against a spinning ball,” he said.The trick is in two things: watching the way Pakistan played and drawing on experiences from home, not conditions-wise, but in approach. “On the mental side of things, there are times in South Africa in seamer-friendly conditions where you have to be brave and try something different. It’s the same here,” Markram said. “And we had the chance to learn from how Pakistan played and saw that we need to have the ability to back defence even in conditions that start to turn.”On green tops in South Africa, batsmen often have to be willing to play more on the back foot and take on the short ball. On drier pitches in the subcontinent, they must do the opposite. They have to go forward, often to meet the pitch of a spinning ball, a strategy that worked well for Markram and van der Dussen. What South Africa need now is for it to work consistently and throughout the line-up, which may come the more this group tours the subcontinent.For all of them, this is their first Test in Pakistan, while only three of them – de Kock, Faf du Plessis and Dean Elgar – have won a Test in the subcontinent (Galle 2014). The rest have been part of tough tours to India in 2015 and 2019, a rained out visit to Bangladesh in 2015 and a humbling trip to Sri Lanka in 2018. Across those series, South Africa’s problems remained the same: the inability for their batsmen to settle against spin. If they are to truly turn the corner, Markram suggested that needs to change.”It’s important that we don’t make the same mistakes we’ve made in previous tours,” he said. “The thing that helped me was spending time in the middle and feeling like you can find a way to score.”

Cameron Green is in the Australia A squad too, and national captain Tim Paine will be in action as well

Andrew McGlashan05-Dec-2020The relentlessness of India’s attack is what sticks in Travis Head’s mind from his experience of the 2018 Test series, as he prepares for the rematch that will begin by captaining Australia A, who have in their ranks national skipper Tim Paine, in the three-day game at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney from Sunday.The make-up of the Indian side has yet to be confirmed, but it will be the first chance on the tour for the Test specialists to get into the middle in a proper match scenario. Head sees this and the day-night three-day game at the SCG as key parts of the series. “They are a really important couple of games for us,” he said, “not just as an Australia A squad but also an Australian squad and we want to start putting the Indian guys under pressure.”Australia A squad

Jackson Bird, Joe Burns, Harry Conway, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Travis Head (capt), Nic Maddinson, Michael Neser, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Mark Steketee, Will Sutherland

Head was in the early days of his Test career when he was part of Australia middle order in the 2-1 series defeat, and he now feels a more complete player with 17 Tests and an average of 41.96 under his belt. However, the India attack he will face over the next six weeks retains the majority of those here two years ago – barring the injured Ishant Sharma, who dismissed him three times in the series – and Head expects a similarly demanding challenge.”I think my game has developed a long way since then,” he said. “You take confidence from everything you’ve done, you take experiences from every game you’ve played and every team you’ve come up against. Nice to have some memories from that series, but they are an unbelievable bowling attack and being well supported throughout.”It’s the way they were able to back up and support each other, not dissimilar to how we are with our attack, you get through the new ball and someone like [Mohammed] Shami comes on and he’s just so relentless on his length. There was just no rest that, you had to be on for every bowler. That is expected of Test cricket but that was my first real look at a quality attack like that. Those next spells are as strong as their first so you have to be on 100% of the time.”ALSO READ: Pucovski keeps likely Test debut in perspectiveHead recently lost the Test vice-captaincy when the role reverted to a traditional single person rather than the share job, and Pat Cummins took the title. However, as Australia plan ahead for their next leader of the Test side, whenever Paine does call it a day, Head remains the only candidate who gets regular experience in the role with his state.”Trevor [Hohns, the chief selector] let me know they were going back to one and I’m perfectly fine with that,” Head said. “There was no real reflection on anything I’d done wrong. I had really good feedback on the way I’m developing. I was very privileged to get that opportunity in the first place having not played a great deal of Test and to be vice-captain of an Ashes series was a massive opportunity for me and something I learnt a lot from.”I think I offered a little bit to that and have captained South Australia for a fair chunk of my career now, and it’s something that’s continued to develop. At the end of the day, I’ve got to be getting runs – if I can help on the side with leadership then fantastic.Travis Head drives on the off side•Associated Press

“It’s something I really enjoy and I’m very passionate about. I’ve always said it’s not something I’m chasing or too worried about. My role doesn’t change if it’s vice-captain or not, it’s another great chance to continue to develop. Very fortunate I have Painey on my side and have chatted to him again the last few days, there’s a lot of leadership around this Australia A team so will keep picking the brains of those guys.”Head comes into the Test build-up on the back of a productive start to the Sheffield Shield season, which included scores of 171 not and 151 in the four matches for South Australia. Since then there have had to be swift changes of plans with the Adelaide-based players hastily flown out of the city amid the Covid-19 scare last month. He has been based with the Adelaide Strikers in Coffs Harbour for the last two weeks and was very thankful for team-mates helping him with preparation.”I was very lucky that they were able to take some time out of their personal preparation to bowl red ball at me,” he said. “For the last 15 days I have been training hard. Feel like I’m hitting the ball nicely and hopefully in the same touch as the Shield season. My cricket prep doesn’t change whether I’m in Coffs Harbour or Adelaide, it’s just 15 extra days away from home is the tough part of leaving.”The Australia A squad includes allrounder Cameron Green, who has been released from the T20I team, but legspinner Mitchell Swepson will remain with the white-ball players so there won’t be a frontline spinner for the home side. One of the main focuses from the Australian point of view will be the performances of Joe Burns, who struggled for runs early season, and the uncapped Will Pucovski, with the duo now expected to form the opening pair in the first Test in David Warner’s absence.